Chapter 1 A Crucial Battle

During the final locker room break before the match, Klopp shared the latest information with his players, "Casillas is prone to making mistakes when catching high balls, so you should send more high balls into their area..."

The players didn't object to Coach Klopp's arrangements; tactical flexibility was one of the team's strengths.

Next, Klopp looked at his players, took a deep breath to calm himself, and then said, "In a few minutes, we'll face a battle that will determine our fate. Since the Champions League was rebranded, no team has successfully defended their title, and I believe you all know this. But honestly, I don't think it's a 'curse.' I don't believe in it. Even if it is a 'curse,' we are fully capable of breaking it! Because this season, we've already broken too many 'impossibilities.' When we were behind Bayern Munich in the league, how many people thought we could still win the league title? When our chances of even qualifying from the Champions League group stage were slim, how many people could have imagined that we could actually fight our way to the final?"

Klopp's words reminded many players of everything they had experienced this season.

Indeed, reaching the Champions League final was no easy feat for them.

This season, Dortmund had many objective and subjective reasons to give up, but if they had really given up, they would definitely not be standing on the Champions League final stage today.

The hardships they had gone through along the way were still vivid in their minds, making many admire themselves just thinking about it.

"...All the difficulties we've experienced in the past have now become our courage and strength. They allow us to stand in the Champions League final, facing a powerful enemy. This is the last game of the season. With just one more game, we can make history. I firmly believe that you can do it, and I am honored to fight alongside you."

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Both teams emerged from the locker rooms and lined up in the player tunnel.

They kept their eyes forward, not greeting their opponents, even though some were teammates from the same national team.

But now was not the time for reminiscing.

Outside the tunnel, the stadium announcer was reading out the starting lineups.

Each name called was met with a huge cheer.

This was a neutral stadium, and the number of fans on both sides was about the same, but listening carefully, one could tell that the Dortmund fans' cheers were slightly louder.

In terms of fanaticism, Real Madrid fans couldn't compare to Dortmund fans.

After announcing the starting lineups, Champions League final ambassador Luís Figo entered the field with the Champions League trophy.

At the same time, the broadcast cameras showed a group of elderly men in the stands. Marcel Reif introduced them to the television audience, "...These are former Celtic players, who have been invited to watch this final in person. They were members of the team that won the 1967 European Cup final, when Celtic defeated Inter Milan in Lisbon to become the first British team to win the trophy..."

After Figo placed the Champions League trophy on its stand, he waved to the fans in the stands and left.

Then the Champions League anthem played.

The referee team at the front led the players from both sides out of the tunnel to the music.

"They're coming out!" He Ping, who was commentating on the match live, turned his head and saw the players coming out, and he exclaimed excitedly.

The television broadcast also focused on the key players from both sides.

For Real Madrid, it was of course Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale. And for Dortmund, the focus was on Zhou Yi.

If Dortmund had any player of the same level as Real Madrid's superstars, then Zhou Yi was the one everyone agreed on.

Next were Reus, Mark, and Aubameyang.

Yan Min also got a close-up. This season was his first European season, but he had given the world an amazing performance. He started as a substitute and rotation player, but in the second half of the season, he had become a key player for the team, performing exceptionally well.

"Zhou Yi, Yan Min, for the first time, there are two Chinese players on the Champions League final stage!" He Ping seemed very excited. "This is a small step for them, but I hope it's a big step for Chinese football! Nowadays, the attendance rate in the Chinese domestic league is rising steadily, and the quality of the matches has also improved significantly compared to the past. But I also hope that many excellent players can go to the European leagues for further improvement after gaining experience in the Chinese Super League. Look at Yan Min. He was just an ordinary young player with some talent in the Chinese Super League, but after going to Europe, he has improved so much..."

He Ping was truly a super-qualified fan of Chinese football, always thinking about the future and development of Chinese football in any situation.

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After the players from both sides entered the field, they lined up, shook hands, and tossed a coin.

After this series of procedures, the match was finally about to begin.

Dortmund won the coin toss, and Real Madrid got the kickoff.

Although the match was kicking off at 7:45 p.m., Portugal was at the westernmost end of the European continent, so at 7:45 p.m. European local time, the sun was still hanging diagonally in the western sky in Portugal.

This was very similar to China, even though it was 8:00 p.m. Beijing time, it was still light in Sichuan, and the sun hadn't set yet in Xinjiang.

So it was rare that the Champions League final was played while there was still sunlight.

Dutch coach Kuipers blew the whistle to start the match.

"...The match has begun! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League final! The two sides are Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid! Both teams are wearing their traditional colors, Dortmund in yellow and black, and Real Madrid in white. Real Madrid kicks off the match..."

After the kickoff, Real Madrid launched an attack on Dortmund's goal.

The two teams were actually very familiar with each other, after all, they had just played each other four times last season, almost to the point of aesthetic fatigue...

So there wasn't much probing, they just went straight into it.

Real Madrid got a shot opportunity in the second minute of the match.

Their striker Cristiano Ronaldo forced a long shot from outside the penalty area, which of course went high...

Possession changed hands.

And Dortmund also used this possession opportunity to launch an attack on Real Madrid's goal.

And successfully passed through the midfield to reach the edge of Real Madrid's penalty area.

Zhou Yi was blocked here by Khedira, making it difficult to continue forward, so he passed the ball to the wing.

To Yan Min.

Yan Min was dribbling to the byline.

Real Madrid's right-back Carvajal was closely following him, not giving him a chance to go to the byline.

Yan Min was about to reach the byline when he suddenly slammed on the brakes, then turned around and used his right foot to pass the ball towards the goal.

In front of the goal, Mark cleverly moved into position,抢到拉莫斯 (qiang dao la mo si, snatched before Ramos) at the near post and flicked the ball towards the goal!

Ramos couldn't stop the ball, and goalkeeper Casillas couldn't stop it either, but the ball didn't fly into the goal, but went just wide...

"Ah! No one was following up behind, otherwise, with just a touch, this ball would have undoubtedly flown into Real Madrid's goal!"

There had always been rumors that He Ping was a Real Madrid fan, but judging from this commentary, He Ping was clearly not on Real Madrid's side...

"Mark—just wide! Dortmund created the first threat of the match! They almost broke Real Madrid's goal just three minutes into the match!" Marcel Reif held his head in his hands.

Only three minutes into the match, and there was already a near goal situation, which seemed to indicate that this final was a bit atypical...

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Dortmund almost broke Real Madrid's goal, which naturally scared the Real Madrid fans a lot, and also stimulated the Real Madrid players.

Next, Real Madrid launched another attack, and they directly used a long pass from the backfield to find Cristiano Ronaldo in the front, the Portuguese rose high and headed the ball to Benzema.

Benzema then transferred the ball to the right wing, Bale quickly cut forward, and after receiving Benzema's ball, he flicked the ball ten meters away, and then strode to catch up. After catching up with the ball, he was already approaching Dortmund's thirty-meter area.

"Real Madrid's quick attack! BBC's tacit cooperation!" the Spanish commentator shouted excitedly. "This is Real Madrid's chance!"

Facing Hummels, who came up to defend him, Bale gently flicked the ball to the outside, then overtook him with speed, and then passed the ball towards the goal.

Benzema in the center attracted Dortmund's other center-back Papastathopoulos, but the ball flew over their heads and went straight to the far post!

There, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sprinting, rose high!

"Ronaldo—header!!"

He headed the ball towards the far corner!

Weidenfeller, who had run back, jumped up, leaned back, stretched out his arms, and barely touched the ball headed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The ball bounced upwards, grazed the upper edge of the crossbar, and flew out of the baseline!

"Ah!!" the Spanish commentator shouted regretfully.

"Weidenfeller! He made a brilliant save!" Marcel Reif exclaimed. "He saved Dortmund's goal, preventing Real Madrid from taking the lead just four minutes into the match!"

A header going just wide in the third minute, and a header being barely saved in the fourth minute...

Only four minutes into the match, and both sides had created a dangerous chance.

This final seemed completely different from those typical finals where both sides were cautious and tentative, not thinking about making progress and only trying not to make mistakes.

It really surprised everyone watching this final.